Process for the oxidation of pregnenes



United States PROCESS FOR THE OXIDATION OF PREGNENES" Joseph J. Goodman, Nanuet, N.Y., assignor to American Cyanamid Company, New York, NX acorporafion'. of Maine No Drawing. Filed Mar. 30, 19595-SerrNo.802,642

11 Claims. (Cl. 195-51) This invention relates to a method" forthe biological oxidation of steroids. More particularly, it relates to a.

atent fermentative method for the conversion of -dihydroj steroids of the pregnane series mike-corresponding 20:- keto steroids.

The process of the present inventioncanbeillustrated by the following structural formulae CH: CH5

CHgOR $H2OB H .OH C=O CH: CH: LH

in which R is hydrogen or a lower alkanoyl' radical, R is hydrogen, hydroxyl or a lower alkanoyloxy radical, X is a radical, X is a halogen atom and C C is a -CH -CH or -CH=CH-- group.

The starting material used in the process of the present invention can be for example and the like. The general preparation of these compounds is described and claimed in copending application Serial No. 802,661, filed March 30, 1959.

The process of the present invention is carried out by growing a microorganism such as Bacterium cyclo-oxidans (ATCC 12,673), Corynebacterium simplex (ATCC 69 46) or Mycobacterium rhodochrous (I. Am. Chem. Soc. 79; 4818, 1957) in suitable growth media which essentially consists of a source ofnitrogenous factors and an assimilable source of carbon and energy. The detail amount of 20-keto steroid present.

2933 534 Patented May 31, 1960- in a water miscible solventnon-toxic towards the organism, is addedto the.cultivated microorganism. The fermentation is allowed to proceed under aerobic conditions for several days; Maximum conversion to the 20- 'keto steroid usually takes place within about 7 to 9 days although in some instances alonger period of time will produce more of the desired steroid. The fermentation can be carried out at a temperature of from about 20 C. to 40 C. although .the preferred range is between 25 C. and 37 C.

Following; completion of the fermentation the products are subjected to polarographic and blue tetrazolium assays which indicate the total steroid present and the In those instances when the starting steroid has a single bond in the 1,2- positions this is convertedinto-a double bond with the conversion to the 20-keto steroid.

The products produced by the present process such as triamcinolone (9a-fl110r0-1 1,8;16a,17a,21-tetrahydroxy-1,4- pregnadiene-3,20-dione) are well known for their high glucocorticoid' activity. This activity is useful in the treatment of rheumatic diseases,v arthritis, burns, bursitis, etc.

The following examples illustrate in greater detail: the

process of the present invention.

Example 1 Bacterium cyclo-oxz'dans (ATCC12,673) isgrown in 50 ml. portions of medium in two 250 ml.- Erlenmeyer: flasks, on a rotary shaker operating at revolutions per minute, at 26.5 C. The medium consisted of commercial dextrose (Cerelose) 2 gram, yeast extract 2 gram, potassium dihydrogen phosphate 2 gram and water to make 2000 milliliters. After a preliminary growth period of 24 hours, a 500 mcg./ml. quantity 9a-fiuoro-11B,16a, l7a,20,8,21-pentahydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one contained in 0.5 ml. of dimethylformamide. is added to each. of the eroids increases from 7 out or" about 400 meg/ml. to 86 out of about 400 meg/ml. and that there is the. appearance of a 20-keto steroid on the chromatograms.

A further experiment was made, similar to that shown above, in which the triarncinolone was isolated and proved to be triamcinolone both by paper chromatography and by infra-red analysis.

Example 2 An experiment was carried out similar to that shown in 2,938,834 3 4 droxy'4-pregnen-3-one and 9ot-fll1OIO-11fi,16a,17ot,20fl,21- After a preliminary growth period of 25 hours, a 250 pentahydroxy-1,4-pregnen-3-one as substrates; with samples being taken for assay at conversion times of 1, 9, and 14 days. The results are shown below:

hydroxy-l,4-pregnadien-3-0necontained in 0.5 m1. of dimethylformamide was added to each of the flasks. The

Conver- Polaro- Assay, ket o Substrate sion graphic A 1 Steroids, Paper Chromatography Showed Time Total, Per- B.T. Assay, K 7 (Days) meg/ml. cent mcgJml.

1 312 88 11 9c: fluoro 115,16a,17a,20fl,21 pentahydroxy-iA pregnadiene-one.

4-pregnadiene-3,20-dlone. 1 327 91 10 9o: fluoro 11,8, 1601,1701, 205,21- pentahydroxy-1,4-pregnadien-3-one. 9 436 96 111 9a fluoro 11B,16a,17a,20fi,21-pentahy- This experiment illustrates the gradual increase of the culture in one flask was further aerated for 9 days; that B.T. Assay with time; indicating the formation of a 20- in the other flask was further aerated for 14 days. The keto steroid which is shown on paper chromatograms to following results were obtained.

be 9a-fl1l0i'0-1113,16a,17oc,21 tetrahydroxy-1,4-pregnadi-' ene-3,20-dione under aerated conditions. The increase of P 18 A K s 20- t Assay from around 10 t0 100 125 meg/ml h Conversion Time graphic SAaiy Steroids Paper Chromausing 9u-flHO1O-11fi,16a,17ot,20;3,21 pentahydroxy 1,4-- (Days) Total, Per- B.T. Assay, togmphy pregnadien-S-one, shows about a 25% yield. cent 311W 3 a: a at s- C B This experiment is carried out 'to show the eifect of a a 261 .94 74 sn- 0, richer medium on the conversion of a 20- d1hydro to a 20- (mg keto compound. Bacterium cyclo-oxidans (ATCC 12,673) is used in the following medium Code:

Grams B=Qa-fluoro-llfi,16a,17a,205,21-pe11tahydroxy-1A-pregnadien-spne. Co ercial dextrose (cerelose) 0 C=9a-fiuoro-11B,16a,17a,21-tetrahydroxy-l,4-pregnadiene 3,20-d1one.

mm 40 Yeast extract 5 l 5 Peptone -1 5 Examp e v Tryptone In this experiment Mycobacterium rhodochrous (SC Calcium carbonate Water to 1000 milliliters.

Using the conditions of fermentation described in Example 1 and 9a-fluoro-11,3,16a,17a,20;3,2l-pentahydroxy- 4-pregnen-3-one as substrate and allowing the flasks to aerate for various lengths of time on the shaker the fol- 2318) is tested for conversion of 9a-fil101O-11fi,16a,17a,

2013,21-pentahydroxy-1,4-pregnadien-3-one and 9oz-fl11010- 1lp,17u,2();8,21tetrahydroxy-l,4-pregnadien-3-one to the fermentation conditions are as described in Example 1.

lowing msults are b i The following results are obtained.

Polaro- Assay, 20-Keto Paper 4 Conversion Time (Days) gaplailic Bs i ergisds, Fhronia- ;5 5 3, I 85 352 gggg g 1 5 6 m??? 533 ml.) (Days) Total, Per- B.T. Assay, tography e meg/ml. cent meg/ml. Showed 403 37 16 A, B 417 92 109 13 C 5 330 100 92 B and C. 459 92 133 B, 0 B 9 37 100 133 B and C. 476 94 135 B, 0 i2 i1; 188 1 1; g and c.

1 Code. 9 467 100 70 E and F. I

A=9a-fluoro-11fi,16&,17a,20,6,21-pentahydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one. 15 467 69 E and B =9a-fluoro-11fi,16a,17a,205,21-pentahydroxy-1,4-pregnadien-B-one.

The i s i i f f t i up t 7 day B=Qaz-fluoro-l113,16u,17a,20 3,21-pentahydroxy-l,4-pregnadien-3-one.

=9a-fluoro-11:3,16a,17a,21-tetrahydroxy-l,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione.

0 shows an increase in 20-keto sterolds. g= g il}flgg gfiggtg h d f 1 4 di 3 Example 4 rzuoro- B, a, y roxy-i, -preguad1ene-3,20-d1one. Corynebacterium simplex (ATCC 6946) was grown in 50 m1. portions of medium in two 250 ml. Erlenmeyer flasks at 26.5 C. on a rotary shaker operating at 185 revolutions per minute. The medium consisted of I claim: I. A method of oxidizing a ZO-dihydro steroid of the pregnane series to the corresponding ZO-keto steroid of the pregnane series which comprises exposing the said Grams ZO-dihydro steroid to the oxidative-fermentative action Commercial dextrose (Cerelose) 2 of microorganisms of the group consisting of Bacterium Yeast extract 2 cyclo-oxidans, Corynebacterium simplex and Mycobac- KH PO 2 terium rhodochrous and recovering said 20-keto steroid water to 2 000 milliliters. therefrom.

20-keto steroids. The medium employed is that described in Example 3. The substrate load is 500 mcg./ ml. Other.

2. A method of oxidizing a ZO-dihydro steroid having the general formula:

in which R is a member of the group consisting of hydrogen and lower alkanoyl radicals, R is a member of the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxyl and lower alkanoyloxy radicals, X is a member of the group consisting of radicals, X is a halogen atom and 'C -C is a member of the group consisting of --CH --CH and CH=CH-- groups which comprises contacting said ZO-dihydro steroid with the oxidative-fermentative action of microorganisms of the group consisting of Bacterium cyclo-oxidans, Corynebacterium simplex and Mycobaczerium rhodochrous and recovering the corresponding 20- keto steroid therefrom.

3. A method of preparing 9a-fill0I0-11[3,160c,17ct,2l tetrahydroxy-1,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione which comprises contacting 9a-fiuoro-1 1 5,1605,1702,205,21-1361111311YC1IOXY-4- pregnen-B-one with a growth medium containing Bacterium cyclo-oxidans and recovering said compound therefrom.

4. A method of preparing 9a-flllOIO-11;3,16oc,17a,21- tetrahydroxy-1,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione which comprises contacting 9a-fl1lOI'O-1 15,16a,17u,2013,21-pentahydroxy 1, 4 pregnadien-3-one with a growth media containing 6 Bacierium cyclo-oxidans and recovering the said product therefrom.

5. A method of preparing 9a-fiuoro-l1fi,17a,21-trihydroxy-l,4-pregnadiene-3,ZO-dione which comprises contacting 9a-fiuoro-1 1fi,17a,20,8,2 l-tetrahydroxy-1,4-pregnadien3-one with a growth media containing Bacterium cyclo-oxidans and recovering said product therefrom.

6. A method of preparing 9a-fiuoro-115,16u,17a,21- tetrahydroxy-1,4-pregnadiene-3,ZO-dione which comprises contacting 9a-fluoro-1 1B,16oz,17a,20{3,21-pentahydroxy-1, 4-pregnadien-3 one with a growth media containing Corynebacterium simplex and recovering said product therefrom.

7. A method of preparing 9a-fluoro11 3,16u,17u,21- tetrahydroxy-i,4-pregnene-3,ZO-dione which comprises contacting 9a-fiuoro-i1B,16a,17a,20 8,21-pentahydroXy-4- pregnen-3-one with a growth media containing Corynebacterium simplex and recovering said product therefrom.

8. A method of preparing 9IX'flUOI'O-11fi,17d,21' rihydroxy-1,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione which comprises contacting 9oz-fill01'O-1 1,3,17m,20fi,2l-tetrahydroxy-1,4-pregnadien-3-one with a growth media containing Corynebacterium simplex and recovering said product therefrom.

9. A method of preparing 9oc-fit10IO-11B,16a,17a,21- tetrahydroXy-l,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione which comprises contacting 9a-fiuoro-l15,16,17a,20fl,21-pentahydroxy-1, 4-pregnadien-3-one with a growth media containing Mycobacterium rhaa'ochrous and recovering said product therefrom.

10. A method of preparing 9oc-fi11010-11;3,17a,21-t1'ihydroxy-1,4-pregnadiene-3,ZO-dione which comprises contacting 9a-fiuoro-1 15,17a,20 3,2l-tetrahydroxy-1,4-pregnadien-S-one with a growth media containing Mycobacterium rhodochrous and recovering said product therefrom.

11. A method of preparing 9ot-filJ01'O-11l3,16a,17a,21- tetrahydroxy-l,4-pregnene-3,20-dione which comprises contacting 9ot-fil1010-11fi,16a,17a,20;3,21 pentahydroxy- 4-pregnen-3-one with a growth media containing Mycobacterium rhodochrous and recovering said product therefrom.

No references cited. 

1. A METHOD OF OXIDIZING A 20-DIHYDRO STEROID OF THE PREGNANE SERIES TO THE CORRESPONDING 20-KETO STEROID OF THE PREGNANE SERIES WHICH COMPRISES EXPOSING THE SAID 20-DIHYDRO STEROID TO THE OXIDATIVE-FERMENTATIVE ACTION OF MICROORGANISMS OF THE GROUP CONSISTING OF BACTERIUM CYCLO-OXIDANS, CORYNEBACTERIUM SIMPLEX AND MYCOBACTERIUM RHODOCHROUS AND RECOVERING SAID 20-KETO STEROID THEREFROM. 